Rewritten Akaka Bill stirs same objections

Isle backers again deny that it creates a race-based state

The Bush administration continues to oppose the Akaka Bill, even though the legislation as currently written addresses many of the concerns raised over the previous version, a U.S. Department of Justice representative testified before a key Senate committee yesterday.

In written testimony submitted to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Gregory Katsas said the current bill continues to promote the creation of a race-based government that could establish its own citizenship criteria, grant separate civil rights protections for its citizens and even secede from the United States.

"By dividing government power along racial and ancestral lines, S. 310 (the bill) would represent a significant step backwards in American history and would create far greater problems than those it might purport to solve," Katsas said.

Testifying in favor of the bill were Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairwoman Haunani Apoliona, state Attorney General Mark Bennett, state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Director Micah Kane and Honolulu attorney William Meheula.

Bennett said the recognition being sought for native Hawaiians is not based on race or ancestry. "Recognition afforded aboriginal groups is based upon a political recognition rather than a racial recognition," he said.

The bill's author, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, questioned the Hawaii contingent in response to objections.